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12.20.2012

Peppermint Christmas Cake Batter Popcorn

I think one of the reasons I love Christmas so much is that it's the one time of year you can make at least seven different treats in a four-week period and people won't think you're that creepy lady who's trying to win her way into people's hearts with food (unless.... that's what people are thinking about of me?)

So far I've made Buckeyes, Martha Washingtons, Christmas Chocolate Surprise and two kinds of cookies.... but that hasn't been enough. I needed more. And I needed something salty, sweet with a hint of peppermint crunch.

That's where this popcorn comes in.

Remember a while back when I made cake-batter popcorn? That stuff is legit. That stuff is delicious. that stuff will be gone in three minutes flat if placed in front of me. For Christmas, I wanted to create that addicting quality with a special holiday flare. Enter crushed peppermint sticks and white-chocolate peppermint M&Ms. And, my friends, the pairing could not be more perfect for the season.

It's like a pepperminty Christmas cake with a crunch. This stuff would be perfect for noshing on while watching one of your favorite Christmas movies with the fam.

Or, it would also make for a nice gift, packaged in a festive bag. I put a little in a baggie and attached some instant hand warmers to leave for our mail man this year. You guys, we have the perfect mail man - he seriously looks EXACTLY like Santa Claus.... if Santa wore a postal service uniform. It's like Christmas Eve every day he delivers the mail. He's a sweet man - even jolly, I'd say - who always chats with us if one of us happens to be outside when he's delivering mail. This year, I figured our mail man deserves a special little gift. So if our neighbors' mail happens to have white-chocolate-and-peppermint fingerprints all over it tomorrow, it's all my fault.

But enough yapping.... all you care about is the recipe, right? Here's enough to make about 16 cups worth of the salty-sweet snack.

Pour popcorn onto a large wax-paper-lined cookie sheet. Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments until melted. Stir in vegetable oil (gives the melted chocolate smoothness), then stir in yellow cake batter and crushed candy cane. Pour the mixture over popcorn, then mix with your hands to coat the kernels. Add M&Ms to the mix and finish with festive holiday sprinkles. Let the chocolate set and harden, then enjoy!